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Troubleshooting

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Cartridge Linking Issues

Cricut cartridges should be linked prior to use them with Design Space or a Gypsy device. Please follow the steps from the help articles below to link your cartridges to your Cricut account. 

Tip: You can still use cartridges without linking in older machines like the Expression, Personal, etc., which do not require a computer.

Troubleshooting

Cartridge Already Linked

  1. Has your cartridge already been linked to a Gypsy device? If so, in order to transfer cartridges from your Gypsy to your Cricut account so that you can use them in Design Space, contact Member Care through one of the options below for assistance. Cartridges that have already been linked to your account through the Cricut Craft Room software are automatically made available in Design Space under the same Cricut ID that you used to link the cartridge. If your cartridge has not previously been linked to a Gypsy device, proceed to step 2.
  2. Was your cartridge purchased used? If so, it is possible that the former owner has already linked that cartridge to their account. Due to copyright and licensing laws and agreements, cartridges can only be linked one time, and cannot be unlinked, so we cannot guarantee that pre-owned cartridges will be able to link to your account. If your cartridge was not purchased used, proceed to step 3.
  3. If your cartridge has not been linked to a Gypsy device and was purchased brand new, collect a picture of your proof-of-purchase (receipt or online order confirmation) and contact Member Care through one of the options below for assistance adding that cartridge to your account.

Cartridge Not Recognized

  1. Clear the browser history, cache, and cookies. For instructions on how to do this, click here. If this does not help, proceed to step 2.
  2. Ensure that you have completed the New Machine Setup process for your Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore. If you haven't or are unsure, you can quickly do this through the account menu (☰). If more help is needed, proceed to step 3.
  3. Ensure that you are attempting to complete the cartridge linking process through a desktop or laptop computer. Cartridge linking is not available through the mobile apps at this time. If you are using a computer and receiving this error, proceed to step 4.
  4. Check to see if there is a firmware update available for your Maker or Explore machine. If there are no updates available, proceed to step 5.
  5. Contact Member Care through one of the options below to find out if there is a known issue with linking that cartridge. For instance, the first cartridge we released, George and Basic Shapes, has difficulty linking and must be added manually by Member Care in most cases. If there is no known issue, proceed to step 6.
  6. Has your cartridge already been linked to a Gypsy device? If so, in order to transfer cartridges from your Gypsy to your Cricut account so that you can use them in Design Space, contact Member Care through one of the options below for assistance. Cartridges that have already been linked to your account through the Cricut Craft Room software are automatically made available in Design Space under the same Cricut ID that you used to link the cartridge. If your cartridge has not previously been linked to a Gypsy device, proceed to step 7.
  7. Attempt to link another cartridge. If that cartridge does link without a problem, you now know it's not an issue with the cartridge port on the machine. Contact Member Care through one of the options below for assistance adding the original cartridge to your account. 
  8. Was your cartridge purchased used? If so, it is possible that the former owner has already linked that cartridge to their account. Due to copyright and licensing laws and agreements, cartridges can only be linked one time, and cannot be unlinked, so we cannot guarantee that pre-owned cartridges will be able to link to your account. If your cartridge was not purchased used. collect a picture of your proof-of-purchase (receipt or online order confirmation) and contact Member Care through one of the options below for assistance adding that cartridge to your account.

"Machine already in use" error message when linking cartridges

  1. Follow the instructions found here to troubleshoot this issue.
  2. If the error persists, please contact Member Care through one of the options below for further assistance.

Nothing happens when I try to link my cartridge

  1. Ensure that you are following the steps found here to link your cartridges.
  2. If you still experience trouble after completing those steps, please contact Member Care through one of the options below for further assistance.

Important: Cartridges can be linked only once, and cannot be unlinked. If your cartridge is a pre-owned one, we cannot guarantee that it can be linked to your account. You can still use those cartridges with stand-alone machines like Expression, Personal, etc.

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